Diascia plant named ‘Pinkwsm’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of Diascia plant named ‘Pinkwsm’, characterized by its upright, outwardly spreading, and compact plant habit; freely and continuous branching; and numerous red purple-colored flowers.

Botanical classification/cultivar designation: Diascia×hybrida cultivarPinkwsm.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present Invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Diasciaplant, botanically known as Diascia×hybrida, and hereinafter referred toby the cultivar name Pinkwsm.

The new Diascia is a product of a planned breeding program conducted bythe Inventor in Guadalupe, Calif. The objective of the breeding programis to create new Diascias with numerous flowers with attractivecoloration and good garden performance.

The new Diascia originated from a cross made by the Inventor during thesummer of 1998 of the Diascia×hybrida cultivar Ruby Fields, notpatented, as the female, or seed parent, with the Diascia×hybridacultivar Red Start, not patented, as the male, or pollen parent. The newDiascia was selected as a single plant from the resulting progeny by theInventor during the summer of 1998, in Guadalupe, Calif. on the basis ofits attractive flower color.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by cuttings taken in Guadalupe,Calif. since the summer of 1998 has shown that the unique features ofthis new Diascia are stable and reproduced true to type in successivegenerations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the cultivar Pinkwsm have not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment such as temperature and light intensitywithout, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘Pinkwsm’. These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘Pinkwsm’ as a new and distinct Diasciacultivar:

1. Upright and outwardly spreading plant habit.

2. Freely branching habit.

3. Freely and continuous flowering habit.

4. Red purple-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Diascia are most similar to plants of the parentcultivars. Compared to plants of the female parent, the cultivar RubyFields, plants of the new Diascia are more outwardly spreading, are morevigorous, and flower more continuously. In addition, plants of the newDiascia do not set seed whereas plants of the cultivar Ruby Fields setseed. Compared to plants of the male parent, the cultivar Red Start,plants of the new Diascia are more outwardly spreading, are morevigorous, and flower more continuously.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearanceof the new cultivar, showing the colors as true as it is reasonablypossible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in thephotographs differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailedbotanical description which accurately describe the colors of the newDiascia.

The photograph at the top of the sheet comprises a side perspective viewof three typical flowering plants of ‘Pinkwsm’ grown in a 20-cmcontainer.

The photograph at the bottom of the sheet comprises a close-up view oftypical flowering stems, developing flowers, fully opened flowers, andthe upper and lower surfaces of typical leaves of ‘Pinkwsm’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations andmeasurements describe plants grown in Encinitas, Calif., in an outdoornursery under full sunlight conditions during the late winter and earlyspring with day temperatures averaging 24° C. and night temperaturesaveraging 12° C. Plants were grown for 16 weeks in 19-cm containers withthree plants per container and were pinched one time. Color referencesare made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 1995 Edition,except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

Botanical classification: Diascia×hybrida cultivar Pinkwsm.

Parentage:

Female parent.— Diascia×hybrida cultivar Ruby Fields, not patented.

Male parent.— Diascia×hybrida cultivar Red Start, not patented.

Propagation:

Type.—By cuttings.

Time to initiate roots.—About 6 to 8 days at 20° C.

Time to produce a rooted young plant.—About 18 to 22 days at 20° C.

Root description.—Fine and fibrous; white in color.

Rooting habit.—Freely branching.

Plant description:

Form/growth habit.—Upright, outwardly spreading and compact plant habit.Freely branching with more than 45 lateral branches per plant.Moderately vigorous growth habit.

Plant height.—About 19 cm.

Plant diameter.—Single plant: About 26 cm. Three plants: About 48 cm.

Lateral branches.—Aspect: Initially upright, then outwardly spreading.Length: About 28 cm. Diameter: About 1.5 mm. Internode length: About 2.5cm. Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: 144A.

Foliage description.—Arrangement: Opposite; simple. Quantity per lateralbranch: About 14. Length: About 2 cm. Width: About 1.8 cm. Shape: Ovatewith cordate tendencies. Apex: Broadly acute. Base: Cordate. Margin:Slightly serrate. Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Venation pattern: Pinnate.Color: Young and mature foliage, upper surface: 146A. Young and maturefoliage, lower surface: 147C. Venation, upper surface: 146B. Venation,lower surface: 147C. Petiole length: About 5 mm. Petiole diameter: About2 mm. Petiole color: 146B.

Flower description:

Flower type and habit.—Solitary axillary flowers; zygomorphic.

Five modified petals fused at base.—Two upper (banner) petals, twolateral petals and one larger lower lip petal. Flowers not persistent.Very freely flowering; typically about 15 buds and flowers per lateralbranch. Flowers face mostly outward.

Natural flowering season.—Plants typically flower from March throughJune in the Northern Hemisphere; flowering continuous during thisperiod.

Flower longevity on the plant.—About 3 to 4 days.

Fragrance.—Not detected.

Flower size.—Height: About 1.7 cm. Width: About 1.4 cm. Depth (height):About 8 mm.

Flower buds (showing color).—Length: About 4 mm. Diameter: About 4.5 mm.Shape: Oval. Color: 70C to 70D.

Petals.—Quantity/arrangement: Five modified petals fused at base: twoupper (banner) petals, two lateral petals and one larger lower lippetal. Base of banner petals with indented yellow eyespots; lowersurfaces of lateral petals modified into nectar spurs; and lower lippetal convex forming horizontal insect landing platform. Length: Bannerpetals: About 5 mm. Lateral petals: About 5 mm. Lower lip petal: About 9mm. Width: Banner petals: About 5 mm. Lateral petals: About 7 mm. Lowerlip petal: About 1.1 cm. Lateral petal spur: Length: About 8 mm.Diameter, at petal attachment: About 2 mm. Shape, all petals: Roughlyspatulate. Apex, all petals: Rounded. Margin, all petals: Entire.Texture, all petals: Smooth, velvety. Color, all petals: Upper surface,when opening: 64D. Lower surface, when opening: 70D. Upper surface,fully opened: 58C; at base of petals, 64B; color does not fade withsubsequent development. Lower surface, fully opened: 58D. Nectar spurs:59D. Eyespots on banner petals: 5A.

Sepals.—Arrangement/appearance: Single whorl of five sepals fused atbase; star-shaped. Length: About 3 mm. Diameter: About 1 mm. Shape:Elliptic. Apex: Acute. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and lowersurfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color, immature and mature: Upper surface:146B. Lower surface: 146A.

Peduncles.—Length: About 1.2 cm. Width: Less than 1 mm. Angle: About 45°from the stem. Strength: Moderately strong; slender. Texture: Smooth.Color: 144B.

Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity per flower: Four. Anther shape:Ovoid. Anther length: Less than 1 mm. Anther color: 7A. Pollen amount:Scarce. Pollen color: 7A. Pistils: Quantity per flower: One. Pistillength: About 4 mm. Style length: About 2 mm. Style color: 144D. Stigmashape: Rounded. Stigma color: 144D. Ovary color: 144C.

Seed/fruit.—Seed nor fruit production has not been observed.

Disease/pest resistance: Plants of the new Diascia have not been notedto be resistant to pathogens or pests common to Diascia.

Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Diascia have been observed totolerate temperatures from 0 to 32° C.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Diascia plant named‘Pinkwsm’, as illustrated and described.